Ralph Altmann

Unidentified

Flying Cameras
Extend your visual world and expand your perspectives! Attaching your camera
to a remote-controlled drone gives you access to previously unthinkable
vantage points. A working photo drone can cost as little as a few hundred
dollars at the local toy store, but multicopters with eight or more rotors that
can carry full-spec DSLRs are the tool of choice for photographers with pro
ambitions. In this article, we take a look at how drones work and how they can
be used to capture unusual photos. We also discuss some of the pitfalls and
technical challenges you are likely to face before you take off for the first time.

In this article
Overview

Page 22

Ready-to-Fly Drones

Page 24

Technology

Page 26

Cameras

Page 30

Drone Rental

Page 34

Copyright by Heise Zeitschriften Verlag

 Copyright by Heise Zeitschriften Verlag

Photo Drones | Introduction

ost photos are taken at eye level, giving

cityscapes and landscapes the same
rather predictable vertical perspective, shot
after shot after shot. Simply shifting your
standpoint by a meter or two can radically
change an image, as ground-level worms-eye
view shots prove. Try it yourself and crouch
down for your next shot of a building. Farther
up, the length of your arms provides a natural
limit to how far you can alter your shooting
position, making a stepladder a standard
piece of kit for anyone shooting at outdoor
events. Specialized camera stands can
provide shooting heights of 10 meters or
more. After that, you need a viewing tower,
although there isnt always one handy when
you need it.

Get Detached
With a drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV), you are no longer tied down. The
flexibility it provides frees you to realize
any number of creative or crazy ideas at
relatively little expense. Your next set of
photos of a mountain trek is guaranteed to
get a viewers heart beating faster if it seems
like you were floating over the abyss. A
photo drone makes it quick and easy to
produce aerial shots that previously
required the use of a helicopter. Drones are
agile too, giving you almost limitless access
to narrow canyons, glacial crevasses,
mountain streams, narrow streets and small
indoor spaces that not even a helicopter can

reach. Shooting altitudes just above roof

height are a drones natural habitat, and you
can even use them to look into birds nests
(making sure, of course, that you dont
disturb the residents while doing so).
Drones also come into their own nearer
the ground, for shooting footage or stills that
normally require the use of a crane or dolly.
Whats more, drones can simply hover in one
place or follow a predetermined route made
up of GPS waypoints. GPS also utilizes follow
me technology to precisely frame or follow
moving subjects such as wakeboarders,
snowboarders,
sailboats
or
surfers.
Commercial film-makers have been using
drones for years now, although it has to be
said that commercial, industrial and
agricultural users have easier access to an
appropriate budget and may be in a better
position than most private users to save
money, thanks to economies of scale. Drones
are used increasingly often by real estate
agents, for thermal imaging and a wide
range of inspection work. Unlike for stills
applications, propeller noise is often a
problem when shooting video, and
dubbing is required, just as it is for footage
shot from a conventional helicopter.
Stills photographers often use cameras
that are too heavy for cheap drones, but you
can still produce effective high-resolution
images by merging multiple shots from a
compact camera. The trend in hobby-grade
drones is moving toward the use of
ready-to-fly drones equipped with the type of

22

camera usually found in a smartphone. These

tiny cameras often produce images that are
just as good as those produced by compact
cameras.
If you are exploring the idea of acquiring a
drone of your own, the following pages will
give you all the technical, commercial and
practical information you need to get off the
ground as soon as possible!
Please note: it is not always possible or
legal to use a drone to capture footage of
anything you happen to fly over or around.
Always check with the local authorities
or the owners of property you wish to
photograph and always make sure you have
appropriate permission before you begin a
shoot. Privacy and copyright laws vary from
country to country, so check the situation in
your location before taking to the air.
If acquiring and flying your own drone
seems too complicated, you can always hire
one from an agency on a hourly or daily basis.
Drones are almost always hired out with a
pilot, as flying them requires practice and
experience.

The two-dimensional Google view most

real estate agents use doesnt make the
most of a drones capabilities. A free choice
of perspective from various heights as
shown in the photos of the Einstein Tower
in Potsdam, Germany opposite makes
things much more interesting.

ct Digital Photography 13 (2013)

Copyright by Heise Zeitschriften Verlag

23

ct Digital Photography 13 (2013)

Copyright by Heise Zeitschriften Verlag

Photo Drones | Ready to Fly

Ready-to-fly Drones
Although drone technology is still in its
infancy, there is already a wide range of
ready-to-fly drones and an even greater range
of kits and components available to
enthusiasts. Nearly all entry-level drones and
kits are based on the two- or three-rotor
multicopter principle. Drone mechanics are
quite simple compared to those of
conventional helicopters with their single lift
rotors, because drones dont require the rotor
blades to change their pitch (see page 28).
Many remote control (and other) components
used in drones have been used for
model-building for years and are mass
produced, making them good value.
Standardized components dont require as
much customization when you build them
into a project, but you may find that the hype
surrounding drones makes some items more
difficult to get hold of as demand increases.
Pre-built drones that you can fly out of the
box are called ready to fly (RTF) and include
all the parts you need to get going, including
a remote control. Almost ready to fly (ARF)
models require some construction work on
the part of the purchaser and you will
sometimes have to order additional
components.
The best way to get yourself a custom
multicopter is to purchase a kit, which is often
not just cheaper than an RTF model but also
cheaper than the sum of the parts it contains.
The other major advantage of the kit
approach is that you can upgrade your device
to provide better performance later on.
Well-known and trusted kit manufacturers

include Cinestar, Quadrocopter, RC-Drones,

Droidworx
and
SteadiDrone.
Many
manufacturer
websites
also
offer
comprehensive building/flying instructions
and really useful user forums in addition to kit
and component sales.

Entry-level UAVs
(built-in camera)
These devices come ready to fly, have built-in
cameras and are controlled either by a simple
(supplied) control unit or via Wi-Fi using a
smartphone. The borders between serious
drones and toys are blurred, and RTF UAVs
weighing less than 400 grams (i.e., less than a
pound) sell for less than US$300 if you shop
around. The Parrot drone shown below
belongs to this category and has a camera
with a 92-degree angle of view (21mm
equivalent) that captures 720p30 HD video
and photos. A second QVGA-quality
(320 x 240) camera on the bottom of the hull
captures video at 60 fps and serves as a flight
control unit. The Parrot does not have GPS
and offers a maximum flight duration of 15
minutes and a Wi-Fi control range of 50
meters

Mid-range UAVs
(action and compact cameras)
Mid-range UAVs start at between US$500 and
US$1,500, although accessories such as a
high-end gimbal (see page 31) can add quite
a lot to the bill. This type of UAV is usually

Image: Parrot

24

powerful enough to carry a mirrorless system

camera. The DJI Phantom Quadrocopter RTF
kit (see opposite) costs around US$700 and
includes the UAV, a six-channel GPS control
and a manually adjustable mount for GoPro
(or similar) action cams weighing up to 200
grams. A two-axis gimbal for the Phantom is
available from www.quadframe.us for US$69
(US$140 motorized). The Phantoms
successor, the Phantom Vision, has a built-in
pivotable 14-megapixel camera.

Pro-grade UAVs
(compact and DSLR)
The widest range of drones is available in the
US$5,000+ price category. Pro-grade drones
can carry cameras weighing up to 2 kg (4.4
pounds), usually have a two- or three-axis
gimbal and offer flight durations of 15
minutes or more. Common in the movie and
advertising industries, they are now also being
used in industrial and policing situations. A
complete Aibot X6, with remote control,
batteries and charger costs around
US$33,000, has a maximum diameter of 1 m,
weighs 2.55 kg (5.6 lb) and can carry a 2.5kg
(5.5-lb) payload for up to 40 minutes at
altitudes of up to 2,000 meters. The Aibots
unique features include eight ultrasonic
collision protection sensors with optional
support from a smart camera and image
processing software, making it extremely safe
to use in crowded or remote airspace. The
Aibot is controlled intuitively via a standard

The Parrot drone from AR.Drone is very

good value but provides only limited
photographic capabilities

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Copyright by Heise Zeitschriften Verlag

Image: DJI Innovations

Photo Drones | Ready to Fly

comparison, starting at US$7,000 with a

two-axis remote head. Optional accessories
include a three-axis gimbal for cameras
weighing up to 1.2 kg and video glasses for
precision flight control.
Adding your own options to a base model
is a great way to save money and end up with
a UAV tailored precisely to your own specific
needs. For example, the powerful ARF
Oktokopter XL from Mikrokopter.de can carry

up to 2.5 kg for up to 20 minutes, but costs less

than US$6,500 (without a remote control or
gimbal). Other manufacturers offer less
powerful base-level kits for around US$1,000,
while two- or three-axis DSLR-compatible
gimbals start at around US$500.
The sections on the following pages
explain how the various parts of a multicopter
work and what to watch out for when
configuring your own UAV.

Cool-looking, powerful and,

most importantly, safe. The
Aibot X6 from Aibotix
International costs around
US$33,000 and provides a
glimpse of the future of photo
drones

Image: Aibotix

remote control unit or tablet computer

interface.
The Microdrone MD4-3000 measures 2 m
in diameter, weighs 15 kg (33 pounds) and can
fly at altitudes of up to 4,000 meters, while the
Skycrane models from service-drone are
specifically designed for use with movie
cameras, and have eight or 12 rotors that can
carry up to 4.5 kg. The Flightcopter FC6-950
RTF hexacopter appears quite cheap in

DJI manufactures a broad range

of components and also markets
RFT UAVs like this Phantom
quadrocopter

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Photo Drones | Technology

Drone Technology
Sleek one-piece photo drones do exist, but
most are assembled from random-looking
components, often held together with duct
tape and cable ties. This DIY approach makes
sense when you consider the speed at which
drone technology is developing, as it enables
you to quickly swap out outdated
components or repair damage. It also means
you can build your own custom drone to fit
your own particular purposes for example,
by adding extra batteries to extend flight
times (although more dead weight always
means a drone can carry less payload).
You can definitely save money by
buying cheap components from Asian
manufacturers, but you have to know what
you are doing before placing an order. There
are dozens of really useful forums on the Web,
but take care not to underestimate the time
and effort involved in building your own
drone. The following sections look at the
individual components of a drone and tell you
what you can expect them to do and what
their limits are.

Chassis
The basic chassis or frame in a drone usually
consist of at least two crossed arms to carry
the rotors and some kind of landing gear. The
number of rotors gives multicopters both
their distinctive and their names: a

quadrocopter has four rotors, a hexacopter

six, an octocopter eight and so on. Even
numbers of rotors make it easier to balance
the torque produced by the alternating
right- or left-rotating propellers. However,
three- and five-rotor UAVs do exist and use
different control mechanisms or degrees of
rotor tilt to balance them in flight. Two motors
mounted above one another (i.e., coaxially),
let you use twice as many rotors to produce
twice as much lift. The more arms (and
therefore rotors) your drone has and the
greater the distance between them, the
smoother its flight but the greater its
susceptibility to the effects of wind.
The metal used for the chassis needs to be
light and stable and should be capable of
damping vibrations. These are the same basic
attributes required in a photo tripod, so it is
logical that the same materials i.e.,
aluminum or plastic strengthened with
carbon fiber are used. Hollow legs are great
for mounting cables, while the batteries,
control unit and camera mount are usually
fixed to the top or bottom of the central point
of the chassis, where they are normally
covered with some kind of protective casing.
Precise distribution of the weight of these
components is less important in a multicopter
than in a conventional single-rotor helicopter,
as any imbalance is easily counteracted by
adjusting the individual rotors. It is handy if
the arms can be dismantled or folded for
transport, especially if you plan to take your
drone with you on hike into the mountains.
Simple DJI aluminum frames weighing 300
grams start at around US$90, although some
basic models can cost as much as US$250.

Power Unit
Multicopter motors have to be precision
engineered to produce as much power with
as little weight as possible. Brushless motors
are the most widely used type and usually
cost about US$55-75 each. The key metrics are
the stated number of watts a motor produces

The brain of an octocopter (in this case

in an SD 2.0 SE from service-drone)
contains a large number of
microsensors. The square white
component at the top is the vehicles
GPS receiver.

26

Rotor
LED Marker Lamps

Remote Control
(2.4 GHz)

Telemetric Feedback
Channel

Live View
Receiver
(5.8 GHz)

and the number of revolutions per volt (Kv),

which, when combined with the power of the
onboard batteries, allows us to calculate the
maximum number of revolutions at idle. For
example, a 1200Kv motor powered by an 11V
battery can theoretically be driven at up to
13,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) without
a propeller attached. However, the real-world
performance of a motor depends on the
propeller you use, and the best combination
of propeller and motor is what gives you
maximum lift.
The two most important propeller metrics
are diameter and pitch, both of which are
usually quoted in inches as part of a products
name. For example, an EPP1045 propeller has
a diameter of 10 inches and 4.5 inches of
pitch, which means (theoretically) that one
rotation propels it 4.5 inches through still air.
The greater the ratio of pitch to diameter, the
greater the stream velocity (and therefore

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Photo Drones | Technology

GPS Module

Motor Controller (ESC)

RC Receiver

Flight Controller
Rotor Speed Control
Power
Shutter
Release

Camera
Positioning

Gimbal Positioning
Lithium
Polymer Battery

Motor

Chassis
(Frame)

Image: mikrokopter.de

Live View
Transmitter

Camera Mount (Gimbal)

with Servo Motor Control

The main components of a UAV and the control

and power flows used to operate them

Landing Gear

flight speed) a propeller can produce. High

velocity is an important factor when
combating the effects of wind but makes it
more difficult to produce a stable hover
position. Most multicopter propellers have a
diameter to pitch ratio of 2:1.
Propellers are commonly made of
expanded polypropylene (EPP) and are
available in stable (but fragile) APC and more
expensive carbon-fiber (CF) types. Most
multicopters require pairs of clockwise and
counterclockwise-rotating propellers, which
cost between US$3 and US$30, depending on
what they are made of and how well they are
made.
The force that lifts a multicopter is called
lift and is measured in newtons (N). 1 N can lift
about 100 g (3.5 oz) of payload. Doubling the
motor speed quadruples the amount of lift
but uses eight times as much battery power.
The power train is usually set up so that a

multicopter can hover at half its maximum

motor speed while fully loaded. This leaves
enough power in reserve for navigating and
flight stabilization.
Motor speed is controlled using electronic
speed controllers (ESCs) that regulate the
phases of the motors so that one stator moves
with the rotating field. Brushless motors are
robust but require a complex voltage timing
system, making appropriate ESCs more
expensive
than
their
conventional
counterparts. Each motor requires its own
ESC, although combined ESCs designed for
use with four or more rotors save space and
cabling. ESCs cost between US$30 and US$80
each, although multi-ESCs can work out
cheaper (for example, the Hobbywing
Skywalker Quattro for about US$40). On the
other hand, some multi-ESCs cost far more
than the appropriate number of individual
components.

Batteries
Drones are powered by rechargeable
batteries, which also determine their flight
capacity and speed. Battery capacity is
measured in milliampere hours (mAh), which,
when multiplied by voltage, gives us the
maximum amount of storable energy,
measured in watt hours (Wh). The lithium
polymer (LiPo) batteries used in most drones
are rated at 3.7 V and are often mounted in
series to provide 11.1 or 14.8 V of power. This
nominal voltage declines under load due to
the batterys internal resistance, which should,
of course, be as low as possible. The maximum
amount of power that the battery can provide
is measured in terms of a multiple of its
nominal capacity, C. For example, the notation
3S 3300mAh 35C tells us that three batteries
are running in series (3S), that they can deliver
3.3 amps for an hour and that the maximum

27

ct Digital Photography 13 (2013)

Copyright by Heise Zeitschriften Verlag

GPS technology can be used to park a drone in mid-air while you shoot the source images for a panorama.
This example shows the Glienicker Bridge between Potsdam and Berlin, constructed from 12 source images.

deliverable current is 115.5 amps (3.3 x 35),

which would run this particular battery down
in 100 seconds. In practice, each motor uses
between five and 20 amps.
One way to increase battery capacity is to
run multiple (same voltage) battery packs in
parallel, but remember that battery capacity
drops significantly in low-temperature
environments. Energy density (measured in
Wh per kg) is another important indicator of
battery performance, as the UAV also has to
carry the batterys own weight, further
reducing the potential payload it can lift. 130
Wh/kg is a good average value. Prices for a
5000mAh battery pack range from US$45 to
US$130, depending on energy density and
durability.
The current required to charge a battery is
also given as a multiple of its capacity (C). The
smaller the charge current, the longer the
usable life (and charge time) of the battery.
Charge currents of two to four times C are
standard, resulting in charge times between
30 and 15 minutes, regardless of battery
capacity. If no charge current is specified, use
1 xC, which will take a full hour to charge. To
prevent the individual cells in a battery pack
from discharging at different rates, their
contacts are connected to a balancer, which is
an integral part of all good chargers. You can
spend as little as US$50 or as much as US$200
on a charger that is worth owning.
LiPos are more sensitive than other types
of rechargeable batteries and shouldnt be
overcharged or completely discharged. If
damaged or short-circuited, they can swell up

or even catch fire, and charging them

incorrectly or too fat drastically reduces their
usable lifespan. UAV batteries have a shorter
usable life than the LiPos used for other
applications due to the high loads imposed by
flying. Depending on battery quality and the
nature of the flights you undertake, you can
expect to squeeze between 100 and 500
charge cycles out of a set of batteries. The
battery is the weakest link in a multicopters
power train, and users everywhere are waiting
impatiently for the battery industry to provide
improved energy densities that they hope will
massively increase flight capacity without
making it necessary to alter any other
technical aspects of a UAV.

Flight Control
The flight controller, or brain of a drone uses
sensors to ascertain altitude, direction and
acceleration, as well as ensuring a stable hover
position and translating remote commands
into real-world movements. Most drone
movements can be executed by altering the
speed of one or more of the rotors, which are
controlled by ESCs capable of altering the
electrical pulses sent to the motor quickly and
efficiently.
Altering the speed of all the rotors equally
causes the drone to rise or fall vertically. To get
it to move forward, you increase the speed of
the rear rotors. A drone can be rotated by
altering the speed of rotors on opposite sides
of the hull, which still provides constant lift,

28

but no longer compensates completely for

internal torque. Most ESCs also have
additional servo output channels that can be
used to tilt the axis of a rotor if required, or
control the movements of a camera mount.
Other output channels provide visual system
information (such as a weak battery
indicator) via LEDs.
The sensors built into flight controllers
enable relative navigation. If you want to
utilize absolute waypoint navigation or
return-to-home (RTH) functionality, your
drone will also have to have built-in GPS.
Some controllers such as the DJI Naza-M and
Wookong-M models have these functions
built in and only require you to attach a GPS
antenna, while other models, such as the
ArduPilot Mega, require you to purchase an
additional GPS module (for example, the 3DR
GPS uBlox LEA-6 for about US$75).
The race to create autonomous flight
control systems is in full swing, and infrared
and ultrasonic collision avoidance systems are
already fitted to some high-end drones as
standard. Time-of-flight cameras can be used
to obtain a 3D image of a vehicles
surroundings, regardless of the ambient
lighting conditions, and can thus be used to
construct extremely precise flight and
position control mechanisms. On a simpler
note, one or two cheap cameras mounted on
the hull and aimed downward can help to
make GPS-based navigation more precise or
provide navigation data between high
buildings, indoors or in other situations where
GPS data is unobtainable.

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Shot using an Olympus XZ-1 mounted on a custom hexacopter rented from a local company

Remote Control
Conventional model-shop remote control (RC)
units that operate in the 2.4 GHz (ISM)
frequency band are well suited for use with
multicopters. Such units have a range of
300-1,000 meters, which is quite sufficient for
flying a drone by sight. The more channels an
RC unit has, the more individual functions you
can control. Basic flight requires four channels
(up/down, left/right, forward/backward and
rotation), and you need additional channels to
switch between manual and GPS-based
navigation and to release the cameras
shutter. Camera position control requires one
channel per axis and focus and zoom settings
also require their own channels if you want to
control them remotely. In such cases it makes
more sense to work with a two-person team
and two remote control units than alone with
a 12-channel RC. This way, one person can
concentrate on flying while the other operates
the camera.
Prices for RC units range from US$150 for
a simple six-channel model to more than
US$3,000 for an 18-channel Futaba 18MZ. You
will also need to build a receiver into your UAV
to transmit control signals to the ESCs and
other servos. Servo signals are transmitted
either singly or summed, either directly or via
a signal decoder. The Futaba S.Bus system is
widely used and supported by various
receiver manufacturers.
Modern digital RC units designed for use
on the 2.4 GHz band use frequency hopping
and direct sequence spread spectrum (FHSS

and DSSS) techniques to compensate for the

short breaks in transmission (dead points)
caused by shadowing and destructive
interference. Diversity systems with two
independent receivers are even safer.
High-quality RC systems include a separate
channel for telemetric feedback, allowing
altitude, speed and battery charge status to
be displayed directly in the RC units readout.
With appropriate controllers, you can use
a GPS module to program a complete flight
route in advance, with waypoints, flight
segments and hover phases. Some flight
controllers have appropriate functionality
built in, while others require the use of an
additional autopilot board such as the
NaviCtrl model from skykopter.com for
US$265. The functionality can then be used to
perform preprogrammed pans or shoot
panoramas while hovering. For advanced
users with access to a full-function remote
head camera mount, waypoint technology
can even be used to shoot multi-row
panoramas with ultra-precise rotation
increments between shots. The same
technology can also be used in reverse to
keep a single subject in constant view during
a flight. Last but not least, GPS functionality
enables you to geotag the route your vehicle

takes and record the exact position of the

photos you shoot for later use with Google
Maps and other map services.
As an alternative to radio control,
multicopters can also be flown visually via
Wi-Fi using a tablet or smartphone interface.
The drawbacks of this approach are the
limited range and the comparatively high
latency of Wi-Fi, which can take 100
milliseconds or more to execute a command.
It is also very difficult to control flight and
the camera at the same time, although a
Wi-Fi circuit is an ideal medium for
(re-)programming waypoints.

Here, the camera operator is using a

separate remote control unit with its own
live view monitor

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Photo Drones | Cameras

Camera Technology
Your choice of camera is limited by the
carrying capacity of your drone and the
dimensions of its camera mount. Live view
image transmission takes place via an AV Out
or HDMI connector and a drone-compatible
camera must have an electronic or infrared
shutter release.
Action cams are perfect for the job as they
are designed to take a few knocks. Their
image quality is not always the greatest, but
is usually quite sufficient for uploading to
YouTube or printing in a photo book. Their
functionality is reduced to a minimum so
that they can be attached to helmets or
independent moving objects. Popular among
snowboarders, white water rafters, surfers and
mountain bikers, they are often either

The US$400 GoPro HERO3 Black Edition

weighs just 73 grams naked and includes a
simple remote control and an underwater
housing that works at depths of up to 60
meters

waterproof or include an underwater housing.

One of the most widely used models is the
GoPro Hero, which is extremely small
(59 x 41 x 21 mm) and light (73 g), does not
have a viewfinder or color monitor and is
controlled via a small monochrome display.
Framing and composition are done by
guesswork, aided by the wide 120-degree
angle of view of the lens, which captures just
about everything that crosses its path.
Some action cams are designed primarily
with video in mind. For example,
SonysHDR-AS15 (US$240) can capture Full
HD video at 60 fps, but only 2-megapixel stills.
In contrast, the GoPro Hero3 Black Edition
(US$400) shoots 12-megapixel images at
burst rates of up to 30 fps (or 120 fps in video
mode) and captures 4K (3840 x 2160) video at
15 fps. Both models use Wi-Fi to control their
shutter releases and transmit live view images.
Unfortunately, cameras as small as this dont
support RAW shooting mode.
Compact cameras offer better image
quality, zoom lenses and (in some cases) RAW
support, but are not so good at capturing
video. We used an Olympus XZ-1 (still
available for about US$300) to capture some
of the photos reproduced in this article. This
camera weighs 275 g, has a very bright (f1.8)
4x zoom and captures 10-megapixel stills and
720p video. Its successor, the XZ-2 (US$500)
captures 12-megapixel stills and 1080p video
at 30 fps. Both cameras support RAW shooting
but have a proprietary USB connector for
remote release and AV Out, necessitating
some creative soldering if you want to use live
view and remote release simultaneously.
Unfortunately, connecting an HDMI cable is
not an option because doing so automatically
switches the camera to playback mode.
Canon compacts and some DSLRs present
similar connection drawbacks and require the
use of a special 11-pin USB/AV combo cable.
The well-known CHDK (Canon Hack
Development Kit) can be used to add a range
of additional functions to most Canon
compacts and even enables you to program
your own. This makes Canon products more
attractive than others for drone-based use. All
you have to do to implement the various
scripts available on the Web and at the CHDK
forum (chdk.setepontos.com) is save them to
the cameras SD card. Using these scripts and
a little additional electronic trickery, you can
release the shutter remotely, zoom in and out
or start a continuous shoot. For more details
on this and other CHDK functionality, such as
RAW and interval shooting, check out the
CHDK homepage at chdk.wikia.com.

30

A drone has to be capable of much heavier

lifting if you want to use it to shoot with a
DSLR. The Canon EOS 600D/Rebel T3i weighs
500 g (body only), while the EOS 5D Mark III
weighs in at 950 g. Adding a bright lens means
that your UAV has to be capable of lifting
1.5 kg or more. Zoom lenses are even heavier
but are of little practical use in the air, as it is
virtually impossible to alter focal length
remotely. Mid-range DSLRs with plastic lenses
and mirrorless APS-C and Four Thirds cameras
are much better suited to aerial use. For
example, the Sony NEX models and the
Olympus E-PM1 (PEN mini) both weigh less
than 340 g with a pancake lens attached.

Camera Mounts
A fixed camera can only shoot in the direction
of flight and drone movements whether
part of a predetermined route or executed to
compensate for the effects of wind spoil an
otherwise smooth video shot. This makes a
servo-controlled gimbal, or remote head,
indispensable. A gimbal should be capable of
performing pitch and roll movements, while
yaw capability is useful for shooting complex
panorama and the like, but not essential. Most
gimbal movements can be duplicated by
altering the position of the entire drone,
although this is complicated to execute and
often results in unwanted judder and
overshoot, and is therefore unsuitable for
video use. Remote camera control requires
one additional RC channel per axis.
The control signals for the servos come
straight from the flight controller with its built-in
position and velocity sensors, while high-end
gimbals have their own stabilizing gyros and
stepper motors for fast, precise positioning.
Some can even compensate independently
for vibrations within the vehicles spaceframe.
The mechanics and electronics built into
high-quality gimbals are complex and quite
expensive. Two-axis gimbals start at around
US$1,000 and a high-end three-axis model such
as the Zenmuse Z15 from DJI can cost as much
as US$3,500.
Smaller, less complex models suitable for
use with compact cameras are less expensive,
but you should reckon with spending at least
as much as the price of your camera if you
want to purchase a worthwhile mount. As
with many consumer goods, drone accessory
prices are falling all the time. At the time
of writing, dronesvision.net was offering
a two-axis gimbal for use with the DJI
Phantom/GoPro Hero3 combo (controlled by
the Phantoms Naza-M) for US$50.

ct Digital Photography 13 (2013)

Copyright by Heise Zeitschriften Verlag

Photo Drones | Camera Control

Camera Control

Although it may seem a minor matter,

releasing the shutter of a camera in flight can
actually be quite tricky. Most conventional
wireless releases only work within a very
limited range, and it is highly beneficial if you
can actually see what is in front of the camera
before taking a shot. Not all cameras can
transmit live view images via their AV Out
connector, but specialized live view
transmitter/shutter release units can be used
to display the camera image on a remote
monitor over distances of 200-300 meters. The
transmitter is attached to the cameras flash
shoe, and some models even have their
own built-in mini-camera to provide a rough
view of the surroundings, even if live view
transmission doesnt work or is switched off.
The units we found only work with DSLRs and
some protrude so far that they prevent the
camera from being mounted on its gimbal.
Better-quality transmitters (such as the
5.8 GHz ImmersionRC EzOSD) can be attached
to the camera via a cable. These offer large
remote monitors, but rarely include remote
release functionality as well.

Yaw

A camera gimbal moves

around three axes called
pitch (or tilt), roll and
yaw (also sometimes called
the pan axis)

Pitch

Roll

Image: Airvideo-Service

Drones are perfect for shooting at fun

sport events, allowing you to keep close
to your subject without getting in the way
or endangering the participants

31

ct Digital Photography 13 (2013)

Copyright by Heise Zeitschriften Verlag

Photo Drones | Shooting Tips

SunCalc (http://suncalc.net/) is an add-on for Google Maps that displays the position and
phases of the sun for a given time of day at a chosen location and can even display the
shadows thrown by some well-known objects and buildings. While Google Earth can
generate impressive lighting and shadow effects, these are less precise and dont reflect the
suns true position.

A first-person view (FPV) approach offers

complete immersion in the flight experience
and enables you to use video goggles to
follow the flight path of your drone as if you
were on board. Head trackers even enable
you to alter the position of the camera
by moving your head. Always use 5.8 GHz
equipment to transmit live view images, as
2.4 GHz gear can interfere with flight
commands.
You need to use a free RC channel to
release the shutter, either using a relay or a
transistor. Construction plans for many RC
releases are freely available on the Web, but
ready-built infrared models for mounting in
front of the camera are available for
compatible cameras for as little as US$25
should you prefer. The most complicated
approach (but one that works for all
cameras) is to release the shutter
mechanically using a servo. Again, the Web is
the best source for construction plans. Just as
complex is the use of airborne follow focus
(focus puller) and remote zoom mechanisms.
In an ideal world, these settings could be
controlled remotely via electrical signals an

approach that is technically possible in

compact cameras, but has so far only
been realized using CHDK and makeshift
mechanics.
The best positioning experience currently
available is point-of-interest (POI) or follow
me functionality. This latches onto the chosen
subject at a constant distance and follows it
wherever it goes. The subject must, of course,
have its own GPS transmitter or carry a
GPS-equipped smartphone that is set up to
transmit its position to the vehicle following
it. The airborne camera can then use this data
and its own position to pinpoint and follow
the subject. Comprehensive instructions
and a list of the components required are
available in the International forum at
www.mikrokopter.de.

Shooting in Practice
Once you have solved all your positioning and
shutter release challenges, you can
concentrate on selecting the right camera
settings. Even when stabilized as effectively as
possible, a drone is never truly still during a

32

flight, so it is best to use exposure times of

1/500 s or less. The anti-shake systems built
into most cameras are attuned to the
frequencies produced when humans shoot
handheld and are much less effective
at higher or lower frequencies. Using
shutter-priority mode is the best way to keep
the exposure time appropriately short if you
are capturing single shots, but the changes in
aperture that this mode produces can be a
problem if you are shooting a panorama
sequence. Most panorama software can
handle differently exposed source images, but
to be on the safe side, you can use a
software-based tool such as Lightrooms
Match Total Exposures command to balance
exposures in a sequence.
Manual mode ensures that your shooting
parameters remain constant during a shoot
but cannot, of course, compensate for
changes in lighting. If you use manual mode,
set exposure for the brightest scene you think
your sequence will contain and always shoot
three-shot bracketing sequences whichever
exposure mode you use. This gives you
backup shots if the lighting does change and
increases the chances of capturing at least
one sharp image for each exposure.
After take-off, focus is just as difficult to
alter as your exposure parameters. Due to the
way they are built, compact cameras produce
images with relatively high depth of field
anyway, so if you are using one, simply set it
to manual mode and focus to infinity. If you
can, set the lens to its hyperfocal distance, as
this provides the greatest possible depth of
focus.
Using autofocus only makes sense if you
use live view monitoring. Left to its own
devices, autofocus can easily produce
unforeseen anomalies or simply focus on the
wrong subject. Photos shot with specific
depth of field effects in mind can be just as
interesting when shot from above, although
an aerial shooting position makes it more
difficult to convey the three-dimensionality of
a subject. Not only that, but you will need a
large-sensor camera, a bright lens and a
servo-driven focus puller if you want to alter
focus during a flight and still capture sufficient
detail.
Unstable flying conditions and onboard
vibrations are much more problematic when
shooting video than they are for stills shoots.
Because every stabilizing movement is based
on calculations made for a system with a
specific weight, it can help to alter the low
pass filter settings on your flight controller to
suit your particular camera/drone combo. If all
else fails, video shake can be cured at the
post-processing stage using tools such as the
Warp Stabilizer included in Adobe Premiere

ct Digital Photography 13 (2013)

Copyright by Heise Zeitschriften Verlag

CS6. If you do use software tools, remember

that they crop the frames you treat by about
5-10 percent.
For an exacting aerial shoot with specific
foreground and background details and
pre-planned lighting, it helps to plan your
flight time and route in advance. There are
various Web services and apps available that
help you calculate and display the suns
position for a given location and time.
Nevertheless, even the best-laid plans can go
awry and it is sometimes quite tricky to find
just the right shooting position when viewing
a scene from above. When viewing your
material after a shoot, you will often find that
a slight change in position would have helped
capture just the shot you were looking for, so
always plan to make at least two flights per
location if you can.
The pilots who fly rental drones spend
most of their time working with clients in the
industrial, farming and real estate sectors and
dont yet have appropriate photographic
experience. However, this situation is
changing, and some drone services now
specialize in film and photo shoots.

Image: service-drone.com

Photo Drones | Shooting Tips

Servo-driven follow focus systems like those used in the movie

industry can also be used to automate photo drone functionality

33

ct Digital Photography 13 (2013)

Copyright by Heise Zeitschriften Verlag

Photo Drones | Drone Rental

Drone Rental
Drone rental services can be found in most
major towns and cities but are generally
booked out when fine weather beckons.
Rental companies provide the drone, the
camera and qualified personnel, as well as
looking after details such as insurance and
obtaining flight permission. If you use a
rental service, you should agree in advance
whether you or the service provider is
responsible for getting permission to fly
over or shoot material of private property.
The contract with a drone service will usually
give you the rights to the images captured
and release the drone company from any
liability regarding the content of the
resulting material. Reputable companies will
refuse to take on jobs that are obviously of
a paparazzi or otherwise questionable
nature, and it is up to the provider to make
sure that any relevant no-fly zones and
military regulations are observed. Some
companies refuse to fly over crowds or large
expanses of water.
Most companies bill for hourly, half-day or
daily rates and sometimes guarantee a
minimum number or length of flights or
a minimum number of photos. If you book

a service, you will generally book the use of a

particular camera rather than a specific drone.
DSLRs are naturally more expensive than
compacts, simply because they are heavier
and require more powerful drones to lift
them, although some services charge fixed
rates up to a certain payload. Likewise, some
companies include image processing in their
prices while others charge extra for additional
services.
Prices for an hours rental in Berlin using
a Panasonic Lumix GH2 start at around
US$500, with a half-day rental costing as
much as US$1,600. Prices vary according to
the specifications of the gear being used
and the amount of local competition. We
paid EUR800 (about US$1,100) for the
half-day shoot that produced the images on
the first couple of pages of this article. An
Airbot X6 with a pilot and the 36-megapixel
Nikon D800 costs about US$2,000 for half a
day and US$3,300 for a whole day.
Two-person camera/UAV operator teams
cost more than a one-person show, and
some companies offer a sneak peak trial
service, shooting a few pictures of a
specified location for a small fixed fee to

help you decide whether you want to take

on a bigger job. Specialized companies take
on complete photo and film projects, with
pricing scaled according to the time and
effort involved.
Having seen what it can cost to have
someone else fly a drone for you, you may be
tempted to go out and buy your own, but
dont forget that as well as the cost of a new
drone with all its associated accessories, there
will be additional outgoings for repairs and
maintenance and the time and effort it takes
to learn to use the device effectively.
On the other hand, a simple, collapsible
drone that fits into a backpack could soon
become a standard photo accessory that
many photographers pack as standard
when heading off on vacation or out into the
country at the weekend. It isnt hard to
imagine visiting well-known tourist
attractions in the near future and finding
ourselves surrounded by hundreds of
autonomous flying cameras. The continuing
development of drone technology definitely
offers adventurous photographers a whole
slew of new and exciting creative
opportunities.
(anm) c

The specialist team from Airvideo-Service controls the drone, while the author views the action live via video goggles

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ct Digital Photography 13 (2013)

Copyright by Heise Zeitschriften Verlag

A unique view: Our team captured some truly

beautiful images of the city of Potsdam.
These images were captured using a Panasonic Lumix
GH-2 mounted on an Octokopter SD 2.0 SE provided by
Airvideo-Service in Potsdam

Copyright by Heise Zeitschriften Verlag